Written Answers Nos. 146-154
146. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will bring a memorandum to Government on the review of the community employment programme; when he will publish same, as outlined by him in October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a number of programmes including Community Employment (CE), Tús, Gateway and the Rural Social Scheme that provide part-time temporary work in local communities, including opportunities for training and development as a stepping-stone back to employment, for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments, including those on a long-term jobseeker’s payment.
These schemes help to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. My Department is also conscious of the valuable contribution the schemes are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.
With the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes, including CE, are all being considered. I hope to be in a position to bring a Memorandum to Government on these matters in the coming weeks. If there are any changes to be made, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a transfer from a community employment scheme will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2123/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSubject to the client identifying a suitable vacancy and being facilitated by another Community Employment scheme, the Department will endeavour to facilitate this transfer for the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of his proposed reforms to pension and retirement policies that would see an end to the compulsory retirement age; the work that has been undertaken by his Department to date; the timeframe for the proposed introduction of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2138/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for the necessary amendments to increase the State pension age in line with the National Pensions Framework as set out in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland. It provided for an increase in the age for qualification for the State Pension from 66 years to 67 years from 2021, and a further increase to 68 years from 2028. It also discontinued the State Pension (transition) for new claimants with effect from 1 January 2014. As the State Pension (transition) could only be paid if the recipient had retired, and given such a criterion does not apply to the State pension (contributory), this removed a significant disincentive to those who did not wish to retire at State pension age.
The Deputy should note that there is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for the terms and conditions of employment and pensions of public servants, including the age at which they may be required to retire. I am informed by that Department that the specific compulsory retirement age and minimum pension age provisions which affect individual public servants reflect their particular employment sector and time of original recruitment.
An interdepartmental group on fuller working lives was chaired last year by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to consider policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors and it reported in August. Any question regarding the work of that group, and the retirement age of public servants, may be addressed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the current policy direction in respect of pensions; the status of the Green Paper on pensions and the subsequent consultation process; and the way in which he will proceed in this regard. [2139/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Paper consultation process commenced in October 2007 and was completed in May 2008 and it formed the basis of the National Pension Framework published in 2010. These reports are available on my Department’s website.
Since its publication many of the areas identified have been subject to legislative change. My Department continues to work to improve the pension’s landscape for Irish people.
Going forward I have already indicated that one of my priorities for 2017 is pension reform. I intend to set out a road map for the reform of the State pension, rationalisation and reform of the pensions landscape arising from the Pensions Authority’s public consultation process, transposition of the EU IORPs II directive, and the design of a universal retirement savings platform for all working people.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
150. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied); when it is expected a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2198/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that an application from this lady for disability allowance (DA) was received by my department on 5 September 2016.
The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
151. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection when the announcement of illness benefit for the self-employed will be implemented (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2215/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Budget measure referred to in the Deputy’s question relates to the extension of cover for Invalidity Pension to the self-employed on the same basis as employees. This is in line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government for an improved PRSI scheme for the self-employed. Invalidity Pension is a pension payment for people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability.
For the first time, the self-employed will access to the safety net of State income supports if they have a serious illness or injury that prevents them from working without having to go through a means test. This is a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed. Given that this is a major change in the social protection system, significant adjustments to operational systems and processes will be required to support this measure. Therefore, the measure will come into effect in December 2017.
In addition, the self-employed will have access to the existing Treatment Benefit Scheme, from March 2017. Treatment Benefit entitlements will be extended further from October 2017 for both the self-employed and employees, providing additional dental and optical benefits.
I trust that this provides some clarity on the issue for the Deputy.
152. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer of any ongoing investigations or inquiries in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2396/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTribunals of inquiry are established by resolution of the Houses of the Oireachtas to enquire into matters of urgent public importance. Commissions of investigation can investigate matters of significant public concern and are set up by Government order. Such commissions are currently provided for by the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.
No such tribunals of inquiry or commissions of investigation are currently ongoing in my Department.
153. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the possible assembly elections following the resignation of the deputy First Minister of Northern Island; his views on whether they can be deferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2041/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI regret the circumstances which have led to the decision of the deputy First Minister to resign his office. I also acknowledge the deputy First Minister’s contribution and leadership over the last decade within the power-sharing institutions.
It was clear, immediately following the resignation of the deputy First Minister, that the prospect of a resolution ahead of the triggering of an Assembly election were slim. However both Governments, in their capacity as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, made full use of the narrow window available to encourage that any avenues for resolution between the parties prior to an election be fully explored.
In the event, an Assembly election has been triggered and will be held on Thursday 2 March. It is important to emphasise that this eventuality is one covered by the legislation governing the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. When parties in an administration cannot agree, an election is the consequence and the outcome of that is now for the electorate in Northern Ireland to determine. There is no legislative provision for deferral and I do not believe that such as step would have been helpful in the current circumstances.
In my discussions with each of the party leaders in Northern Ireland, I have emphasised the importance of all parties acting responsibly in word and deed during this election campaign, to prevent any long-term damage to the political institutions of the Agreement.
After the election, it will fall to the parties to form a power-sharing Executive and this will of course require a resolution to the issues which brought about the current situation. As these political difficulties are worked through in Northern Ireland, it is of the utmost importance that all parties bear in mind the principles of mutual respect, partnership and equality, which underpin the Good Friday Agreement, through which so much has been achieved.
As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will continue to work with the British Government and the political parties to support political stability, reconciliation and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland.
154. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has completed, or plans to carry out, a study or an assessment on the constitutional, legal, financial or other implications in preparation for a possible referendum on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2042/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and succeeding agreements is a priority for my Department and indeed the Government as whole. In this context we are of course also guided by the aspiration contained in Article 3 of the Constitution as amended by the people in 1998.
The principle of consent and the possibility of a change in constitutional status in Northern Ireland is a fundamental part of the Good Friday Agreement, which was endorsed by the people of this island North and South. The trigger for a referendum in this jurisdiction is, of course, connected with the calling of a border poll, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, in Northern Ireland. This occurs when the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland considers it likely that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland.
At present, the Government does not believe it likely that such a border poll in Northern Ireland in the near future would result in constitutional change; that is also the view of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. In those circumstances, such a poll now might only increase uncertainty and division at an already difficult and sensitive time.
In the absence of any prospect of a referendum in the near future, my Department does not have any active plans to carry out the type of study specifically referred to by the Deputy. However, my Department continues to actively monitor the relevant polls, attitude surveys and academic literature that relate to evolving sentiment on the issue of constitutional change.
There are of course aspects of this constitutional issue which relate to my Department’s ongoing work. In the context of Brexit, for example, the Government has made clear its determination to ensure that all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, including those relating to a possible change in constitutional status for Northern Ireland, are upheld regardless of the UK’s status within the EU.
